12 DIY Dining Table Plans You Can Build (Round, Farmhouse and Modern)
Round, farmhouse, modern and one with a concrete top. Here are 12 dining tables you can DIY, or just admire while you hope someone else builds one for you. (That’s still my plan.)
I went looking for one dining table plan and came back with twelve. That’s the problem with a good rabbit hole, and honestly, I should have stopped searching a long time ago.
We are fortunate in this house to have two dining tables. One is smaller and one has extra leaves so it can host a crowd, but we use them both regularly. The smaller table was recently updated to a thrifted oval table that we painted green.
Yes, green. My husband just requested that I paint it “anything but pink” and this is the color we landed on.
A dining table does a lot of heavy lifting. It’s where the holiday meal happens, where the homework and the puzzles and the late-night talks happen, and where everybody ends up even when there’s a perfectly good sofa in the next room. So if the one you have isn’t working, or doesn’t feel like you, building one is a way to get exactly the size, shape and look you want for a lot less than buying it.
And if you build one of these, I’d love to see it!
Before You Pick a Plan
The prettiest table in the world won’t make you happy if nobody can pull out a chair, so start with how you want the room to feel and how you actually live in it. Then grab a tape measure.
- Decide how you want it to feel. Cozy and everybody-elbow-to-elbow? Long and dramatic for holiday dinners? Round and easy for conversation? A round table feels relaxed and fits a small square room. A long farmhouse table says “come on, there’s room for one more.”
- Think about how it lives. Is this where homework, puzzles and craft projects happen too? Pine is budget friendly but dents, and a lot of people (me included) call that character. Hardwoods like oak and maple cost more and hold up better.
- Measure the room, then measure it again. Leave about 36 inches between the edge of the table and the wall or furniture so chairs can pull out, and plan on roughly 24 inches of table edge per person. A standard dining table is about 30 inches tall.
- Be careful with your rounding. I once rounded a measurement on a yard-sale cabinet because I didn’t think it would matter. That 3/4 of an inch meant it wouldn’t stand up where I wanted it without leaving a giant gouge in the ceiling. A dining table is a lot bigger than a cabinet, so measure the room, the doorways and the hallway you’ll carry it through. Check out How to Read a Tape Measure for more help.
- You could always add a little color. Nobody said the base has to be stained. A hot pink, apple green or deep blue base under a natural wood top is a fun way to make a classic table yours, and if you get tired of it, it’s just paint. Mismatched chairs in a few colors you love work too.
I didn’t stop with the base. I just painted the entire table green and it makes me so happy everytime I see it.
Round DIY Dining Tables
Round tables are made for conversation, because nobody gets stuck at the far end where they can’t hear a thing. It’s also easy to add another chair and crowd people around a round table. Around the round – you get it.
Farmhouse and Classic DIY Dining Tables
These are the tables that look like they’ve been hosting Sunday dinners for fifty years, even if you finished the last coat of poly on Thursday.
Modern and Statement DIY Dining Tables
These are the tables people ask about before they even sit down.
Modern Builds walks you through a 6-foot round farmhouse table made from basic 2x and 4x construction lumber, with step-by-step written instructions and a video so you can copy the whole process on your own. He says no complex joinery or special tools are needed, and the chunky X base is so good.
Good for: a big round table on a lumber-store budget.
Christine at Honey Built Home built a round dining table, then built another one, and this updated tutorial shares everything she learned in between. She shows two versions, one in white oak from the lumber yard and one in budget 2x6 boards, and she's very honest about what she'd do differently. It's a great read even if you're not planning this exact table.
Good for: a crowd, and anyone who likes learning from someone else's lessons first.
This is a fantastic tutorial from Jeff's DIY, and not just for the table and benches. He explains so much about woodworking along the way, with a video too, that you'll understand the why behind every step. It's a goldmine of information, and the benches tuck right under the table when you need the floor space back.
Good for: learning woodworking while you build, and kitchens that need every inch.
Shanty 2 Chic built this one from framing lumber for their sister's new house, and they color coded the diagrams so you can see exactly which piece goes where. There's a video and a free printable plan, and at the bottom you'll find links to even more of their table plans. So even if this one isn't your favorite, I bet you'll find one that is.
Good for: a first big build on a small budget.
Pine and Poplar took a Studio McGee table and made it in pine, at 72 inches long and about 44 inches wide so two people can sit at each end. That's the best part of DIY: you get to pick the size. The free tutorial is great, and if you want a complete workbook with 3D renderings, you can buy the printable plans too.
Good for: the designer look without the designer price tag. You'll want a table saw for this one.
If you aren't familiar with Angela Rose Home, go fix yourself a cup of coffee and settle in, because you'll be down the rabbit hole pretty quickly. She built her own version of a designer table she loved for around $200 in maple, and she's honest about the trade-offs, like the fact that the chairs can't push all the way in. Once you get to the bottom, you can keep clicking through her other projects and keep on planning.
Good for: anyone who loves a dupe and a real, honest answer about how it lives.
Wendi at H2OBungalow had a dining nook just 7 feet across, so she built a 30-inch-wide table and a matching bench that seats four, or six in a pinch. She uses ready-made legs and only four basic tools, and if you've made it this far you know my favorite part of DIY is building the exact size your room needs.
Good for: apartments, breakfast nooks and anyone who thought a dining table wouldn't fit.
Tylynn M gives you a classic truss table with a modern twist, complete with a lumber list, a cut list and plans for a matching bench. She built hers in ash, but she kept every dimension to standard boards from the home improvement store, so you can build it in pine if you'd rather keep it simple. If you love this style, you're all set.
Good for: a clean, modern look with a plan that spells everything out.
I really love the look of this one from Woodshop Diaries. There's a little gap between the legs and the top so it looks like it's floating, and the tutorial lays everything out so you can follow along. There are lots of extra resources linked if this is your first table, and of course there's a video, which is so helpful because you can pause and replay it over and over.
Good for: first-timers who learn best by watching.
I love the simple lines of this table from With Love From Kat and the weight of those thick white oak legs. Kat and her boyfriend built it for her New York apartment, and it was their first build ever. The tutorial reads a lot like something I'd write for my husband ("let me sketch you a picture"), so if it's your first project it might not have enough detail for you. But it's gorgeous, and I know you can figure it out.
Good for: minimalists, and anyone who wants a table that looks like a piece of art.
Home With Stefani built this one for a friend in a dark ebony stain, and it has everything you need to DIY it: lumber and cut lists, step-by-step photos and a video. I'd be tempted to go lighter to show off all that herringbone, and good news, she has a lighter version of her own table too. Pick whichever makes you smile.
Good for: a pattern lover who wants a table with a little wow.
Sarah at The Created Home teamed up with Jen Woodhouse on this geometric base, and she shares what worked and what didn't along the way. My favorite part is her honesty: she built hers a little shorter, realized the chairs didn't fit between the legs, and moved it outside under the pergola. The full plans on Jen Woodhouse's site are 84 inches long so you don't make the same mistake. Lesson learned, and a gorgeous outdoor table out of it.
Good for: an experienced DIYer who wants something nobody else has. Fair warning, a concrete top is heavy.
The 12 tables at a glance
| Table | Style | Size (from the plans) | Seats | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Builds | Round farmhouse | 72″ round | About 8 | Construction lumber, video |
| Honey Built Home | Round | 70″ round | 8 to 10 | Beginner to intermediate; a white oak version and a 2×6 budget version |
| Jeff’s DIY | Farmhouse trestle + benches | About 72″ x 36″ | 4 on benches, plus ends | Benches tuck under; video; paid PDF plans |
| Shanty 2 Chic | Farmhouse angle base | Not listed | A whole family | About $129 in framing lumber; beginner; free printable plans |
| Pine and Poplar | Classic, Studio McGee inspired | 72″ x about 44″ | 6 to 8 | About $150 in pine; uses a table saw; paid plans optional |
| Angela Rose Home | Classic, Studio McGee inspired | Not listed | Not listed | About $200 in maple |
| H2OBungalow | Small-space farmhouse + bench | 30″ x 72″ | 4, or 6 with the bench | Four basic tools; ready-made legs |
| Tylynn M | Modern truss | 6′ top | Not listed | Lumber and cut lists; matching bench plans |
| Woodshop Diaries | Modern floating top | 40″ x 80″ | 6 to 8 | Video; build it from 1x or 2x lumber |
| With Love From Kat | Chunky plank | About 90″ x 35″ | Not listed | Thick white oak planks; a first-ever build |
| Home With Stefani | Herringbone top | 74″ x 42″ | 6 | Plywood base with a herringbone top; video |
| The Created Home | Concrete and wood | 84″ (full plans) | Not listed | Video; full plans on Jen Woodhouse’s site |
DIY Dining Table FAQ
Is it cheaper to build a dining table than to buy one?
Usually, yes. Several of the tables on this list were built for somewhere around $130 to $200 in lumber, and two of them copy designer tables that sell for thousands. Lumber prices change, and you’ll also need stain, sealer, screws and maybe a tool or two, so price out your list before you start.
What’s the easiest DIY dining table for a beginner?
Look for a plan made from standard boards with pocket-hole joinery and a video, like the Shanty 2 Chic angle-base table or the H2OBungalow table with ready-made legs. Round tables and concrete tops take more tools and more patience.
What wood should I use?
Pine is affordable and easy to find, but it dents and scratches over time. Hardwoods like oak, maple and ash cost more and hold up better. If you love a lived-in, a-little-worn look, pine is perfect.
How big should my dining table be?
Plan on about 24 inches of table edge per person and about 36 inches of space around the table so chairs can pull out. Most dining tables are about 30 inches tall.
Can I paint a DIY dining table instead of staining it?
Absolutely. A painted base with a sealed wood top is one of my favorite ways to add a little color, and you can repaint it whenever you’re ready for a change.
So Which One Would You Build?
Whether you build one this weekend or just admire them while you drop hints to someone handy (still my plan), I hope you found a table that makes you smile. Start with how you want the room to feel, measure twice, and don’t be afraid to paint the legs pink.
Which table would you build? Tell me in the comments. And if you build one of these, tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Follow along on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest for more ideas.
More ideas you’ll love
- How to Read a Tape Measure
- What to Buy at Thrift Stores (mismatched dining chairs, anyone?)
- 15 Items to Purge from Your Kitchen Immediately
- My Ikea Bookshelves
- More DIY projects
